4.5|Ishqa • Broke me|

Your brother for the first time in his whole existence has given you a gift. A cute little puppy.

But the same brother lost it somewhere.

How will you feel?

Because that's exactly what Qainaat was feeling.

Zaid Raazdani, for the fifth time in the last three hours, is putting drops in his ears. Because Qainaat's loud wailing has caused him pain in the ears.

While Afifa Raazdani has simply put cotton in her ears. Because she has experienced this torture many times in the last twenty-one years.

Zahra and Zania are trying to console Qainaat. But Qainaat's pitch was increasing with every passing minute.

"Qainaat, calm down. Qaran has gone to find Silky." Zania said.

"How on this earth he will find my baby in this vast city?"

"Silky's collar had a tracking device. Qaran had specially inserted it for such situations. So don't worry. He will trace Silky and bring him back."

"Qainaat, have some more ice cream." Zahra offered.

"I have lost my appetite. I won't eat anything till the time my baby don't come back." Qainaat said, grabbing a giant bowl of ice cream from Zahra. She began eating it, taking big scoops. She ate a total number of four ice cream bowls while crying and saying "I won't eat anything."

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"Oh, my baby." Qainaat was sitting in the garden with Silky in her arms.

"Qaran Bhai, where did you find him?" Zahra asked.

"In a lorry carrying dog food."

"Kids, I have good news for you all." Zaid Raazdani said in a cheerful tone while entering the garden.

"Oh! Are we getting a new addition to our family? Well done, Dad. I am proud of you." Qainaat being Qainaat said whatever came into her mind.

"Shut up, you, big mouth. I am talking about your engagement with Ahsan. That will happen the day after tomorrow. It will be a simple family affair, nothing extravagant." Well, Zaid Raazdani was scandalised at his daughter's words.

After listening to this good news, Qainaat was doing her happy dance in her mind.

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Raazdani house was filled with the aroma of delicious South-Asian delicacies. It was quite hard to resist those tasty aromas.

Qainaat was twinkling like a star in a white Sharara with golden embroidery. She was looking simple yet elegant.

Zahra and Zania also wore white to twin with Qainaat. Zahra's dress was a frock suit while Zania's dress was a Garara.

Following this white theme, Qaran opted for a shimmery white Kurta.

While Qainaat's parents were wearing colour coordinating yellow outfits looking like an adorable couple.

It was around ten in the morning when Ahsan and Aram arrived. And both the brothers were wearing blue Kurtas, looking no less than Princes which they were.

Ahsan sat beside Qainaat on the couch. He smiled but that smile could not reach his eyes. He looked disturbed.

"Ahsan, is something wrong?" Qainaat asked. She could see distress in his eyes, like he was bearing some burden on his soul.

"No... Everything is alright."

"Are you sure?"

Ahsan looked at her, into her eyes. He was unsure. He knew he is hiding a big secret from her, but he didn't dare to tell her the truth. What if she left him? He can't lose her.

"Yes, I am."

But Qainaat was sceptical. Something was definitely wrong.

On the other hand, Zania was also looking disturbed.

"Nia, is everything alright?"

"Yes, Qaran."

"Where were you last night?"

"I was at my friend Clarrisa's home. She needed my help in studies."

"Hmm, by the way, you look beautiful."

Qaran walked away with a smile adorning his features, making butterflies erupt in Zania's stomach.

At a corner, Zahra was decorating the plate carrying the engagement ring with rose petals.

"Zahra..."

She turned to find Aram standing there.

Zahra wasn't a little girl to not understand that Aram was interested in her. However, she was quiet only because he knew his limits.

"Can you please decorate a plate for this ring as well? I don't have any knowledge about what to do."

"Sure."

Handing her the ring which Ahsan will put in Qainaat's finger, he left. That was something weird. He didn't even compliment her. What is going on in his mind?

After fifteen minutes,

"Let's exchange the rings?" asked Zaid Raazdani.

Aram nodded.

Zaid felt a little guilty seeing no happiness in Aram's eyes. He knew it was because of what he said to him a little while before.

"Aram, it would be better if you stay away from Zahra. I understand that you love her, but being your partner means she will have go through what her parents suffered. And I don't want her to suffer. I want to keep her away from the Nawab family as much as possible."

But he was doing it for Zahra's safety.

Zahra handed the ring to Qainaat while Aram handed the ring to Ahsan. But before they could exchange rings, everyone's phone beeped at the same time.

It caught everyone's attention and they pulled out their phones. What they saw had shocked them.

Ahsan and Zania sleeping together.

No one knew how to react.

Just a little before there was happiness surrounding them, but now it was all silence. A deadly silence before the storm.

Qainaat's eyes filled up. She could not believe that it was true. It can't be true.

Qaran was enraged. All of a sudden he felt a familiar feeling of betrayal. And the fact that it's his sister who was also betrayed did worse to his anger. He pulled Zania's wrist and took her outside the house.

"Zania, where were you last night?"

"Qaran, trust me. I didn't do anything. It's false."

"I asked where were you last night."

"I... I was at Clarrisa's place."

"Call her."

She nodded, controlling her tears and dialled her friend's number.

"Put it on speaker."

Doing so Zania spoke.

"Hello, Clarissa."

"Oh hi! Zania." Clarissa replied cheerfully.

"Umm... I was at your place last night, right?"

"No babe, are you joking? We haven't met this week."

"But Clarissa, you had told me that you are pregnant with your ex-boyfriend's child and I was there the whole night to console you."

"What rubbish are you talking about? I am not pregnant. Zania, I think you need mental treatment." Saying this Clarissa cut the call.

Zania was left astonished. Why does it seem like a trap? As if someone had done full planning to prove that Ahsan and Zania were having an affair.

"Do you have anything else to say?"

"Qaran, trust me."

"How can I? There's proof that you spent a night with my sister's fiance and you are talking about trust."

"Qaran..."

"Shut up! How can you stoop this much low?"

"I didn't do anything!"

"And you think I'll trust you?"

"I used to think so. But I guess, I was wrong."

"So do I. I was wrong to love..." Without completing his sentence he left, leaving her heartbroken.

He took no time to judge her. He took no time to end the trust between them. He took no time to break her heart.

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After Qaran and Zania left, Aram stood in front of Ahsan.

"Ahsan, where were you last night?"

Ahsan kept quiet.

"Ahsan, look, I trust you. Tell me where were you last night?"

"I am sorry, Bhai. But I can't tell you."

"Ahsan, because of your silence Qainaat and Zania, both will suffer. Speak up."

"These pictures are fake. I wasn't with Zania last night."

"Then where were you?" Qaran's angry voice took everyone's attention.

"Wherever I was, I was alone."

"Alone with Zania, betraying my sister."

Within a second Qaran and Ahsan were standing face to face. Qaran grabbed Ahsan's neck.

Qainaat finally took in what was happening and stood up to stop her brother.

"Bhai, stop. He is innocent, I trust him."

"Qainaat! He has betrayed you."

"He can't betray me."

Ahsan smiled, looking at Qainaat. That was all he needed. Her trust.

Zahra was looking at the scene helplessly. Her sister was accused of something she never did. She again looked at that picture, this time with more focus.

"Wait! This is a fake picture."

"Zahra, stop defending your sister." Qaran was in no way going to listen to anyone.

"Qaran, look at the picture again. There is a tattoo on Zania's wrist in this snap, however, Zania has no tattoo on her wrist. This is a fake picture."

Aram too found something odd.

"Ahsan is wearing a denim shirt in it, however, neither he likes denim nor he has it."

Qaran was quiet. At that moment all he could register in his mind was, he accused Zania of doing something she never did. He broke her trust.

Without meeting anyone's gaze he went outside to apologise to Zania. But to his shock, she wasn't there.

"Zania!"

He did a big mistake by not trusting her. And he knew that he will have to suffer for this. Maybe by losing Zania forever.

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This story is going to be a little longer. It's just the beginning!